Exclusive interview with Labour leader Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, came to Bedford on Friday, and the Times & Citizen was the only local newspaper he spoke to.

Mr Miliband was in town to speak to local businesspeople who had been poorly advised by banks, some of whom had lost their businesses while others were left significantly out of pocket.

Following the meeting at the Shakespeare Hotel in Shakespeare Road, Mr Miliband agreed to further meetings with the group. And he said he intended to meet with financial regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Mr Miliband told the Times & Citizen it may time to separate High Street banking from speculative or risky transactions that have been labelled ‘casino banking’.

He said: “My overall impression was that a terrible injustice has been done. And the trouble is that one injustice is being compounded by further injustice.

“I am determined to fight against this.”

Mr Miliband also offered his support to Olly Martins, the Labour candidate to be the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire in next month’s election.

And he echoed calls by local Labour Party leaders in calling for more information about plans to overhaul health services in Bedfordshire. It has been claimed that these changes could mean that first-time mothers are no longer able to give birth at Bedford Hospital.

Mr Miliband said: “We need openness so that we can judge what these plans will mean in Bedford. Until then people cannot judge these plans for themselves.”